Magnolia bit her lip and forced a smile as pain radiated across the top of her slippered foot.

“I’m sorry.”

Kennaway had apologized at least a hundred times since their dance lesson began. Her mood was foul after the loss of sleep and her throbbing toes didn’t help. She drew in a shaky breath. “Focus, Sir Kennaway.”

“I am trying, but your beauty robs me of breath.”

Magnolia fought the desire to roll her eyes at the flattery. Sir Kenelm Kennaway was a handsome fellow with broad shoulders, dark hair, and clear hazel eyes, but he wasn’t Justin.Perhaps if she’d met him a week before she would be batting her lashes and holding her hand over her fluttering heart, but not now. With every mishap she compared him to Justin. Justin would never have mashed her slippers. He was an excellent dancer.

“Perhaps your father made a mistake. I am unteachable.”

​It was on the tip of her tongue to agree, but instead she said, “Father never makes mistakes.”